Massive terrorist hunt operations launched by security forces after a photo-op video posted on social media

| 04 May 2017

| Anshuman Tripathi, Editor, NOP

In Southern Kashmir's southern districts Shopian and Pulwama, the attacks on the banks by militants especially in the villages have increased dramatically. After reports of militants being hiding in villages, security forces launched massive anti-terrorist search operations in Shopian district of south Kashmir. A team of about 3,000 security personnel from the Army, CRPF and the J&K police took extensive search of the nearby villages in Shopian and Pulwama.

Locals said that the security forces searched the house in more than a dozen villages including Heef, Sugana, Chilipora and Mandaln. It is believed that an investigative campaign is being run in about twenty villages. Terrorist activities have dramatically increased in Shopian and Pulwama, 60 km south of Srinagar. On Tuesday, several banks were robbed and terrorists snatched arms from five guards. Five policemen were also killed on Monday.

Sources in security forces and police said that the operation was done to restrict the movement of terrorists and to demolish their safe havens. No terrorist was arrested until this report was written. However, in order to enter the village in the morning, the security forces had to use the tears gas to disperse local youth who were pelting stones while the security forces tried to enter villages.

According to the police, the recently released video on social media, which included 57 militants, was shot in the same area where the operation was being carried out. In this video released on social media, heavily armed and un-masked terrorists have been shown sitting openly for a photo-op.